by Shortigirl

Hi everyone, I am 23 years old and thinking about going to nursing school. I have been interested in nursing for a long time, however I feel that my antibiotic allergies may prove to be dangerous for the nursing profession. As of now I am allergic to Cephalosporin (anaphilactic reaction while recieving it intravenously), Penicilin, and I think I may be allergic to Azithromycin (while taking a Z-pak i felt sick to the stomach and itchy). I also have contact dermatitis with certain Bandages and can only use the fabric kind.

I guess my question is ..Do you think I should still consider nursing as a career or move on to something else? I'd appreciate any help you can offer me on this decision! Thanks!

Re: Nurses with Multiple Antibiotic Allergies

If you are administering an antibiotic, it's rare that you'll come into much contact with it that would induce a reaction.
If you are concerned as far as a contact reaction, then you can get yourself into the practice of wearing gloves while priming tubing and spiking piggybacks. I really don't see any reason why any of this would limit you from nursing. I mean it's not like you have to take a taste of it before you administer it.

Re: Nurses with Multiple Antibiotic Allergies

Originally Posted by firefightingRN

I mean it's not like you have to take a taste of it before you administer it.

How come no one told me this before?

Re: Nurses with Multiple Antibiotic Allergies

Thanks for the feedback!....I am not so much worried about coming into contact with the antibiotics themselves as much as contracting things that may cause me to need to take antibiotics. I know this may be a stupid concern but I am just not really familiar with the risks that nurses actually have when coming into contact with infectious diseases.

Re: Nurses with Multiple Antibiotic Allergies

I've been a nurse for 17 years now and never caught anything that required an antibiotics and I've worked ER and ICU where exposure is high.

Re: Nurses with Multiple Antibiotic Allergies

I have allergies to multiple antibiotics. I've been a nurse for 15 years and work in one of the areas where there's the highest likelihood of exposure to nasty bugs, the ICU. The only infection I've come down with in my workplace is pertussis and that was ten years ago. I've also had several surgeries in recent years that required antibiotic prophylaxis. Knowing which antibiotics I'm allergic to and handling them carefully has kept me safe and it will work for you too.